VTG subsidiaries strengthen quality and safety management

Hamburg, 29 October 2008.  In October, Transpetrol, the biggest rail logistics subsidiary of the Hamburg-based VTG Aktiengesellschaft (SCN: VTG999), passed the requirements of the SQAS Rail (Safety and Quality Assessment System) with great results for the second time. Previously, in May, the tank container subsidiary VOTG also successfully passed the SQAS test again and was also audited for compliance with the CDI-mpc (Chemical Distribution Institute - maritime packed cargo) guidelines.

These inspections help the two organizations to strengthen their process-oriented quality and safety management procedures in the VTG divisions Rail and Tank Container Logistics. With these audit reports to hand, the Group’s customers - and particularly those in the chemical and mineral oil industries - no longer need to conduct their own individual audits; instead, customers can simply log on to the websites of the inspection institutes to inform themselves about the Transpetrol and VOTG’s SQAS and CDI-mpc evaluation.

SQAS is a standard established by the European Chemical Industry Council (Conseil Européen de L’Industrie Chemique, CEFIC). It is used to rate the quality, safety and environmental compatibility of services offered by logistics companies.

The CDI-mpc guideline extends beyond Europe and is of particular relevance for the United States, where logistics companies are audited for quality, safety, environmental compatibility and management processes. 

All audits and assessments are based on a standardised questionnaire and auditing procedure, making them fully comparable for customers.  

About VTG:

VTG Aktiengesellschaft is one of Europe’s leading rail logistics and wagon hire companies. The company has the largest private wagon fleet in Europe. Globally the fleet consists of about 49,300 rail freight cars with a focus on tank cars and state of the art high capacity freight cars and flat cars. In addition to the hiring of rail freight cars, the Group offers global tank container transport and comprehensive multi-modal logistics services mainly around rail transport.

With the combination of its three interrelated divisions Wagon Hire, Rail Logistics and Tank Container Logistics VTG offers its clients a high-performance platform for international transport of their freight. The Group has many years of experience and specific know-how in particular in the transport of liquid and sensitive goods. Its customers include numerous well-known companies from almost all industrial sectors such as, for example, chemicals, mineral oil, the automobile or paper industries.

In the financial year 2007 VTG generated operating revenues of EUR 541.4 million and an operating result (EBITDA) of EUR 137.0 million. Via its subsidiaries and affiliates the company, which has its head office in Hamburg, is mainly present in Europe, Asia and North America. As at 30 June 2008 VTG employed 833 employees worldwide in consolidated companies. Since June 2007 VTG AG has been listed on the official Prime Standard market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange – since September 2008 also on the SDAX (SCN: VTG999).

Press contact:

Tanja Laube
Head of Corporate Communications
Telephone:        +49 (0) 40 23 54-13 41
Fax:                 +49 (0) 40 23 54-13 40
E-Mail:             tanja.laube@vtg.com

Yvonne Studier
Press Officer Trade Press
Telephone:        +49 (0) 40 23 54-13 45
Fax:                 +49 (0) 40 23 54-13 40
E-Mail:             yvonne.studier@vtg.com